Three bumps up mobile broadband contract charge

Three is pushing up the price of its broadband, applying a rather-generous inflationary rate to customers who thought they were on fixed-rate contracts.

Customers who are currently paying £15 a month for Three's broadband will be billed an extra 56 pence next month – ex VAT of course – in a rise that Three describes as "increasing ... with inflation" but actually seems rather higher than the prevailing rate.

The Office of National Statistics puts inflation at 3.2 per cent, while Three pegs it just over 3.7 per cent, but that's splitting hairs when many people thought that the agreed monthly bill would have remained the same for the duration of the contract.

All the mobile operators have the option to adjust prices, though they rarely do as it upsets customers, but when a contract lasts 24 months it's not surprising that the price can't be maintained over a couple of years.

Three told us that increasing the price is better than reducing the data allowance, and that it hasn't increased prices for a very long time, but that the terms and conditions are clear that price changes are permitted as long as decent notice is given: it's all in the small print. ®